HF Icon toolbox

[My Old Tools]

Just saw these at HF today. Look pretty nice.

 

[YukonXL04]

Just saw these at HF today. Look pretty nice.

Pretty sure I would have a hard time paying 4k for anything at harbor freight... just saying. Seems like theres better options for a 56" box for less that 4k

 

[mikec35]

Wonder what that does to all their US General boxes they have been stating are equal to the Snap-On $6999 boxes? Does that mean an $1100 US General is at least equal to or better than the $5000 Icon boxes?

 

[Moose97]

Pretty sure I would have a hard time paying 4k for anything at harbor freight... just saying. Seems like theres better options for a 56" box for less that 4k

Like US General sitting right next to it.

As well as the reviews have always been on the US General boxes I'm surprised they would add another line. What are the similarities with the 2 boxes?

 

[JSHOUSE1]

Ive owned snap-on, matco, craftsman, us general..... Ive handled ICON, they are nice, but not worth the money, US General is the way to go IMO. Yes ill take us general over snapon. My box doesn't make me money, the tools do.

My current setup is 2 44" chest and end locker, waiting on 9 drawer side chest and another locker to finish it out (ordered and paid for, just out of stock). Im in less than 1500 to that setup. and I like it as much as my last 6K matco box, and have much more room.

I will say the power drawer is nice, and I like the icon lockers better, but for the price....

 

[Super Sport]

This is an old thread, but I couldn't find any more recent. I played with the ICON box in my local HF for the first time yesterday, and all I can say is WOW!

I've never been a fan of the US General boxes. The drawers are flimsy, the pull trim is ugly, and the drawer latches are a stupid design. But with ICON, they fixed all of those issues and built a truly incredible box. Of course you're going to pay for it, and they are pricey, but I've yet to handle a box that I was that impressed by. I imagine a modern KRL or EPIQ is better, but I'm not a pro and could never justify new SO prices.

I'm curious to see how HF continues to market these and whether or not they bring prices down again. Of course I have concern over long term availability of replacement parts, but that is a valid concern with all imported boxes. Not being a pro, it's unlikely I will ever need that anyway.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

The US General boxes are great in my opinion I use them as a professional mechanic and I use one at home too. I haven’t really looked into the Icon though I don’t appreciate them copying Snap-on.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Cryptic1911]

The ICON boxes are damn nice, but $$$. I think that's going to price them out of the market for most people, just because of who they are buying it from. That said, I got an 84"x30" deep bottom for $4k from strictly toolboxes and I love it

 

[nadogail]

I replaced my old Craftsman with a US General, several years ago and have been happy with the newer box.

 

[CJM8515]

icons nice,b ut way to much money for such an item. id sooner spend more and get a tool truck box

 

[djb25]

I've never been a fan of the US General boxes. The drawers are flimsy, the pull trim is ugly, and the drawer latches are a stupid design.

The drawers are flimsy on the US General boxes? Ummm... ok.

The drawer latches come off with two screws.

The pull trim? Yep, the Icon is nicer. The Icon definitely looks better than the "US General" branded box.

But at the end of the day, I cannot imagine buying the Icon box. The 56" Icon is something like $2700 vs. $700 for the US General. That's $2000 more. That's almost FOUR TIMES the price.

No thank you. The US General boxes are great because they're well built and reasonably priced.

 

[DBS5Window]

An old friend told me “The toolbox is something to look at. It’s what’s inside that makes you $$”.

 

[karoc]

What about this bad boy side box for 1200.00 or could wait till goes on sale

 

[Lodi781]

Ive read other threads about the ICONs and people saying they have yet to hear of anyone actually buying one. I was in HF today looking at them along with the US general boxes. I asked the manager how many of these do you sell (ICON ) ? He said before COVID they sold a bunch. Now things have slowed down and haven’t sold one in a couple of months. The US generals are good enough for me as a DIY guy, but the drawer layout of the 52 ICON is what I wish the generals had. I like the two long drawers so I can have sockets on top and wrenches underneath all in one drawer respectively. The generals have too many shallow drawers. Wish they had a few more deeper ones in the smaller sizes.

 

[BearsFan315]

we used to call HF the Cheap Tool Store, place you went to buy cheap tools for a one time job, like disposables. or buy some tools and not want to spend money for the name.

over the last few years they seem to be stepping up the game. not not just ONE line of a product but 3 or 4 !! economy, good, better, best !!

looks like they are marketing to be a general tool store, at all levels. and on the high end stuff would not be surprised if it is NOT made by the same manufacturers at the big names.

i buy tools and other gear from them. some with coupon and others without. and noticed that many of the better and best products are not on sale and exempt from the coupons.

i just hope they do not put themselves in a pickle (get greedy) and price themselves out of business. that had a good stake in the market, wonder how that will hold ?

 

[VT Tool Man]

Not a pro, so I can't justify Snap-On or Mac money for a toolbox that will be worth well more than all the tools inside, but I have been shopping to replace a Husky 41-inch combo (the #$%*@#$& drawers are 15.875 deep, meaning all those 16-inch Ernst trays just don't fit by a hair) and a 26-inch Craftsman combo that is about 20 years old.

I am willing to spend money, since I am pretty sure I am never going to buy another toolbox, and was eying the Homak RS line or the Icon, which is, admittedly a bit more expensive. But the Icon seems to be a better built box than the Homak RS. The frame steel and the drawers both feel beefier, the wheels more rugged. The details on the Icon boxes are finished nicer as well.

The quality of the Icon boxes is very nice and definitely better than the U.S. General stuff, which, of course, remains a phenomenal value.

With the reduced prices and now the regular 20% coupons on Icon tools, the Icon stuff is now just expensive instead of "should be American made for that price" expensive.

 

[Cryptic1911]

If you're considering icon, you might want to check out strictlytoolboxes.com their toolvault boxes are damn nice for the price. I got an 84w x 30d bottom box for 4k and I love it

 

[m6z]

Not a pro, so I can't justify Snap-On or Mac money for a toolbox that will be worth well more than all the tools inside, but I have been shopping to replace a Husky 41-inch combo (the #$%*@#$& drawers are 15.875 deep, meaning all those 16-inch Ernst trays just don't fit by a hair) and a 26-inch Craftsman combo that is about 20 years old.

I am willing to spend money, since I am pretty sure I am never going to buy another toolbox, and was eying the Homak RS line or the Icon, which is, admittedly a bit more expensive. But the Icon seems to be a better built box than the Homak RS. The frame steel and the drawers both feel beefier, the wheels more rugged. The details on the Icon boxes are finished nicer as well.

The quality of the Icon boxes is very nice and definitely better than the U.S. General stuff, which, of course, remains a phenomenal value.

With the reduced prices and now the regular 20% coupons on Icon tools, the Icon stuff is now just expensive instead of "should be American made for that price" expensive.

The Icon boxes are certainly a step above the Homak RS Pro and with their lower prices and 20% off they are at an attractive price point. Icon doesn't offer a 40"ish box, so I went with a 41" RS Pro and I'm very happy with my decision.

IMO the RS Pro is the middle ground between your typical big box store tool box and the Icon.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

My box doesn't make me money, the tools do.

No truer words!!!

 

[jkesselr]

I do not understand the affinity for the Icon boxes. I bought a used Snap-on KRL 72" box (I don't remember the model, but it has 3 wide drawers that looked like brand new. Butcher block top, without a dent or scratch in it. I got it bought for $3,000.00. Sure, a buy like this is rare, but if I were in the market for a box in the $3k-$4k price range, I would look for a smoking deal on a truck box or, if I was impatient, I would look at the strictlytoolboxes folks. I think the Icon is false economy, and truly not much economy at that. If you are looking for economy and a good deal, U.S. General pretty much can't be beat.

 

[Blackbyrd]

I ordered a 73 and 2 lockers a week ago. I kept looking at other options and kept coming back to it for the power drawer and lockers. I'll probably be waiting an eternity thanks to the supply chain issues of covid.

 

[PaintNBodyGuy]

Fwiw all the guys here with the attitude of oh I just assume get a Snap On box at this price point. Well I hate to break the news but a Williams KRA clone box is priced at about 2500$ and weighs about 400 pounds. The Icon weighs 800 lbs. and cost as much as the Snap On KRA clone box that would be 6000$ directly from Snappy. It just gets worse from here for an epic box one that is comparable to the Icon your talking 15,000$. I hate to be a Snap On hater because I love them so much but looking to Snap On because 2500$ is to expensive at HF is just laughable imho. I don't think most of you guys could afford a or justify the price for a list price Epiq. LOL

 

[Mikeske]

Saw this in a local Harbor Freight. Actually not a open box but a refused order

 

[Hammer1963]

This is one HELL of box for that price point. Even if you do not need a tool cab, buy it! I have purchased two in the past 6 weeks and I am beyond pleased with the quality.

 

[bobg03]

I personally see no need for that kind of $$$$$ for any box, y'all not planning on living in it, are ya?

 

[m6z]

Man, I'd love to have one of those 36" boxes. It's a shame they're already discontinued.

 

[Blackbyrd]

agreed I could use one of those also, and after seeing an less expensive unit (my old husky 66inch box) compared to something like this..... the cost differential makes sense. and if you have a tone of automotive tools like I do, its worth it to have it all in one place.

I shopped for about 6 months and for equivelant storage it would have been cheaper but no lockers just 2 long boxes that still wouldnt hold everything and offer the power drawer, which I have fully converted from air tools.

some may not see the benefit, but im not spending 12k for just a box for a home garage

 

[Mikeske]

The main reason I took a pass on this box was I really do not need it in my garage as I plenty of storage in the US General boxes I already have. The 2nd thing is the box is just to small for all the tools I already have being a retired mechanic. Since I never used the higher cost toolboxes during my working life I just used what I had I just kept going with what I had.

The other thing is it would be a oddball in color and size. I tend to being traditionalist in the fact of a red toolbox color. It does not bother me if some other folks have a different color but I really do not care for it myself.

Even with all my stated reasoning I am still thinking it over if I get it.

 

[username2]

It might simply be that the Icon box pricing is done to help market cost increases on US General. They're there to get a little traffic and to increase sales on the cheaper units.

 

[lugnut71]

i almost bought that same box in red, floor model, every 2 weeks that marked it down more, it had the stainless top also and sold for like 742 or such

 

[durk_2007]

When I see these tool box discussions one thing I never see people mention is the main thing a toolbox is a LOCKABLE tool storage. that is what alot of people pay big money for is secure storage of 10k+ worth of tools. If I have that much wrapped up in n tools I want to know a simple prybar and hand chisel won't open it.

Working in a dealership I've been through a break-in once and that changed my perspective. Back then I had a craftsman box, now I have a MATCO. I got to see the carnage of one guy left his box unlocked and they attempted to use his tools to open the rest unsuccessfully. ( They were all snap-on). And fortunately for me they weren't smart enough to look in the other section of the shop where my box was.

I'm not saying everyone needs one but something to think about. My craftsman in now my home box where I feel more secure.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I got a very good deal on the original US General boxes years ago when they had crazy sales and 20% off coupons. I was wanting to replace my old Craftsman boxes. I have never regretted the purchase. If you are doing it once, consider your needs, and then just do it. I'm not a bling guy, but sometimes bigger is better.

I never did get rid of my old Craftsman boxes, but the way they made them 40 years ago, you can tell they are getting tired. But I was happy to have them then, and I am happy to have them now. If you remember how most tool cabinets were made in the 60s and 70s, Seeing the first US General boxes, you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven. There is a great deal of satisfaction to walking up to a drawer and picking up a tool you haven't used, or even thought of for years, and like magic, there it is. If you have ever worked with people who never return tools to the same place twice, you know exactly what I mean.

 

[Mikeske]

Saw this in a local Harbor Freight. Actually not a open box but a refused order

Today it dropped to $715.00. I debated it in my mind and my common sense won out and I did not buy it. They had 2 boxes one was the green one without the stainless top and this red one which had the stainless top.

 

[Mikeske]

Today it dropped to $715.00. I debated it in my mind and my common sense won out and I did not buy it. They had 2 boxes one was the green one without the stainless top and this red one which had the stainless top.

They both sold today at the open box price of $715,00 Watch the red one get rolled out to a rental pick up with a lift gate.

 

[JimH74]

I would buy one for that price if I could find it. I need to start downsizing. I'm at that point in life where I'm not taking on any big projects, but I still want to keep basics for minor issues that come up.

 

[Danj6776]

They feel pretty solid, I’ve been considering them for my home. I’ve had a few snap-ons back in my past life, amazing, but I don’t need that again lol. These feel close to that sturdy, certainly much better than the thin tin at the big box stores.